The Latest in Hybrid Diesel-Electric Power Boating is here! Meet the Greenline33
By veganbliss
@veganbliss (3895)
Adelaide, Australia
February 7, 2011 7:48pm CST
Straight from the Dusseldorf Boat Show held from January 22-30, 2011 this is a first of its kind & already an award winner. It has already taken out the Motor Boat of the Year Award in London. It has already been tested in the USA. Most boat-lovers seem to fall into one of two main camps, sail or power & the two rarely see eye-to-eye. Power boaters have always found yachters a bit of a hassle as they always seem to demand right-of-way (even when not under sail). Yachters find power boats noisy, smelly & so forth. This could be the answer - a power boat that appeals also to yachters.
It's similar in principle to hybrid electric cars, but with many impressive differences. Most electric cars can only drive short distances on full-electric, but this boat when run only on its battery will go 20 nautical miles at 5.5 knots. Even better, the Greenline 33 will run at 2.5 knots on solar power alone! If you really want to move things along, bring the diesel engine online & watch it go at around 15 knots. Something that it will not have is a planing hull & will not gulp fuel when it's being pushed. At low speeds, its fuel consumption is like that of a 30 foot yacht when under power. It can go for 700 nautical miles on diesel alone - that's a Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
This baby makes no more noise than a yacht under sail when on electric & when on diesel, professionals describe it as "serene". It's a single cabin cruiser with a ten meter length. Its 7kW electric motors runs in series with the 2.4L, 125kW 5 cylinder VW TDI engine. Another difference to electric cars is that both motors can be run at once & contribute power together. It also features a patented "super-displacement hull", letting it glide through the water like a yacht. The diesel motor can easily be used to re-charge the battery while away from shore.
You can buy one now. They're on the market for the same price as a small house on Queensland's Gold Coast - about $333,333 including tax. Hmmm... tricky decision: investment property with body corporate fees or a Greenline 33 with mooring fees! For the money, it has all the fittings of a luxury power boat - check the Gallery on the website. Who wants one?
http://greenlinehybrid.com/
1 person likes this
2 responses
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
15 Feb 11
Hmmm, I love the comparison to Gold Coast hose prices. Are you trying to hint that I should buy one when I sell my house? Then you could come cruising when you come up here! 
What an awesome boat! I checked out all the specs on it and love the fact that it has solar as well. It seems very versatile in that you can use the solar, plug it into mains or use the diesel to charge the batteries. This is the way of the future for big boats. Even smaller boats could probably get away with it.
I wonder when we will start seeing solar panels built into the roof designs of mass production cars as well. I think that this technology would work well in large vans like courier type postal vans and the like with large flat roofs.
What an awesome boat! I checked out all the specs on it and love the fact that it has solar as well. It seems very versatile in that you can use the solar, plug it into mains or use the diesel to charge the batteries. This is the way of the future for big boats. Even smaller boats could probably get away with it.
I wonder when we will start seeing solar panels built into the roof designs of mass production cars as well. I think that this technology would work well in large vans like courier type postal vans and the like with large flat roofs.@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
16 Feb 11
Oh mate, thanks for stopping by. I'd just end up talking to myself if you hadn't shown up.
OK, here's the plan. We could fit it with a Bedini battery swapper-charger & run the bugger for free indefinitely. Your family could take a holiday in it to Thailand & bring back a ton of Green Drinking Coconuts & flog 'em off down here for over three bucks each, which is still much cheaper than the supermarkets. We'll pay it off in no time! You can skipper the clipper, even if I buy it. I'm sure you've got some better ideas though.
One thing's for sure. We're going to be needing more boats like this, which also come in flat-bottoms for shallow water, when we see more flooding like we've just witnessed all the way down the eastern seaboard. People will be buying boats over cars if or when this happens. And to keep them constantly on the go 24/7 without needing to stop or pay money for recharging / re-fueling, that's going to be the key!
They've already got a new fleet of solar-electric buses doing the free run of the city here & North Adelaide. I think they have been running for a few years now. Let's see if I can find you a website...
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/environment/energy/tindo-solar-bus.html
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
16 Feb 11
Well I figured that if I did not respond, that you might have to do it yourself and give yourself the BR! 
I did see those Adelaide buses a few years ago in a magazine that I bought. They are leading the way. I have not heard of any other cities doing this yet though, but they may be? They were talking of introducing solar powered ferries here for a service in the Gold Coast canals a few years ago too, but I have not heard any more about it though recently. They also need to replace a few of the City Cats in Brissie after the flooding as a few of them were damaged. Replacing them with the hybrid design would be awesome.
I will "skipper the clipper" I do have a boat licence. Just got to watch out for pirates in the Indonesia area! I also have a motorbike licence and was looking at these a few months ago. They look like they would be fun. http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/au/
I did see those Adelaide buses a few years ago in a magazine that I bought. They are leading the way. I have not heard of any other cities doing this yet though, but they may be? They were talking of introducing solar powered ferries here for a service in the Gold Coast canals a few years ago too, but I have not heard any more about it though recently. They also need to replace a few of the City Cats in Brissie after the flooding as a few of them were damaged. Replacing them with the hybrid design would be awesome.
I will "skipper the clipper" I do have a boat licence. Just got to watch out for pirates in the Indonesia area! I also have a motorbike licence and was looking at these a few months ago. They look like they would be fun. http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/au/@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
16 Feb 11
Now there's an idea! Those things are made with less & deliver more... except noise. I'm not too sure who would go for a motorbike with no noise, except maybe terrorists! Bikers & bikies (there's apparently a big difference!) alike would be switching back to cars that made some noise if their bikes were made to be silent. I think most of them really go for the noise & the vibes. Might be some demand then for electronic "bike noise" sound simulators. I reckon all the bike clubs & classic bike restorers will have a growing market to cater to then.
I know that John Bedini is using solar cells now in some of his more recent devices, different than our group, this is for the advanced group. He can get a lot of power out of those cells in total darkness 24/7, apparently, but I'm not supposed to say anything to anyone!
Do you think those city cats in Brissy would be covered by insurance? I don't know how or when they will be replaced if not. Private enterprise? I did go for a long ride on one a little while back.
Oh man, the pirates... forgot about them! Nah, bugger it, the cargo we carry is way too precious! 
Do you think those city cats in Brissy would be covered by insurance? I don't know how or when they will be replaced if not. Private enterprise? I did go for a long ride on one a little while back.
Oh man, the pirates... forgot about them! Nah, bugger it, the cargo we carry is way too precious! 
@Kalyni2011 (3496)
• India
17 May 11
Thank you so much for the detailed information friend, wish i could buy one, but the problem is not money, we don't have sea nearby, there is river but less water..
Namastey. 
Kalyani
Namastey.
Kalyani
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
17 May 11
Thank you for your interest.
That is a very sensible reason not to buy one. Some people with lots of money buy a boat as an investment or because they feel they should have one, but have no water upon which to sail it!
I wish you every success in spending your money on worthwhile investments.
Namastey.
That is a very sensible reason not to buy one. Some people with lots of money buy a boat as an investment or because they feel they should have one, but have no water upon which to sail it!
I wish you every success in spending your money on worthwhile investments.
Namastey. 